Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Shakespeare No More - Tony Hays

Shakespeare No More

Tony Hays

Perseverance, Sep 9 2015, $15.95

ISBN 9781564745668

In 1616 Stratford, suffering from a horrific fever William
Shakespeare nears death. He summons his
former BFF wool merchant and Stratford Corporation Constable Simon Sadler to
his dying bed. Shakespeare insists
someone poisoned him. Even if he
believed the dying Bard, which he does not, Sadler hates him for sleeping with
his wife.

Physician John Hall believes his renowned but almost universally
disliked father-in-law died from arsenic poisoning. Hall convinces the constable that someone
murdered Shakespeare. However, though
many Stratford residents including Sadler loathed Shakespeare, the constable
diligently performs his duty and journeys to London because he thinks the
killer resides there. Attempts on his
life confirm Sadler’s contention.

This excellent police procedural will thrill readers, but
it is the early seventeenth century elements at Stratford and in King James
court that makes this one of the best of historical novels of the year. With a powerful cast, a sense of readers feeling
we are in 1616 England and a fascinating mystery, Tony Hays (see The Arthurian
Mysteries) authors a taut whodunit.